Electrically-heated branding iron



Patented Dec. 28, 19.3255.

UNlTED STATES JEAN RAVELLA, F LYON, FRANCE.

ELECTRICALLY-HEATED BRANDING IRON.

Application filed November 2S, 1925, Serial No. 71,943, and. in France December 5, 1924.

The present invention refers to branding irons which are used for making` letters or figures on pieces of wood. lgenerally on wooden chests. Such irons have usually consisted up to the present time ot iron plates fixed to suitable handlesy and which had to be heated in a furnace, a highly unsafe method in rooms in which such materials as paper and wood chips are dealt with. On the other hand these irons cool rapidly as a conse quence ott their workingr and by convection in the air. They must be often re-heated and this causes a great loss oi time and labor.

In the improved iron according to the present invention, the branding plate is heated by aheating* plate in which are `arranged one or several electric resistances, and the device needs no separate heating.

'20 On the other hanrh the branding plate may he easily removed and replaced, il desired.7

by another one.

The annexed drawing represents by way ot example a branding iron according to the 25 invention.

Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side elevation.

Fig. 2 shows the terminals of the device.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the frame.

Fi lis a longitudinal section of the heatinfr plate.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent one terminal ot the heating plate and its connection with the electric conductor.

The trame 7 may be made ot cast-iron or any other appropriate metal. This ,trame has in its lower part a rectangular recess for housinfr Jdie heating plate; its upper tace is ribbed and is provided with a tubular boss 8 in which is placed a tube 9 which forms the lower end of the handle. Two grooves 10 and 11 .in the frame recess act as ways for the electric wires 12 and 13. As may be seen in Fig. 3.y these grooves are opposite each other and they lead into the boss 8. The terminals of the conductors are housed in two small recesses 14.- and 15 atthe ends of ,grooves 1() and 11,

The tube 9 is provided with 'tour rows of holes for effecting an efficient air-cooling; said tube being fixed by any appropriate means in boss 8 of the trame.

The handle 16 is made of wood or of any other heat insulating material. and is lined in the upper end of tube 9. This handle is hollow and the conductors 12 and 13 are run through its bore; and it also has hollow cover 17 provided with a hole through which the flexible electric cable 1.8 is passed. This two-conductor cable is conn neeted with the electric supply.

The heat-ing plate 19 consists ot a mica plate on which is wound a resistance wire or strip 2() of appropriate eross-sectioual area and length. This windin is covered by two mica sheets. Each end of resistance 2Q is pressed between a folded copper strip 21. the shape of which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. Resistance 2() and strip 21 are besides soldered er welded together. These strips 21 are the terminals et the heatingr plate.

The flexible cable 1S is connected with terminals 22 and 23 on the upper part of the handle 16 by screws 24 and 25 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Two other terminals 26 and 27 are connected with conductors 12 and 13. which are insulated by means of hollow porcelain insulating beads through which they are individually passed. These conductors arf.` run through handle 16 and grooves 10 and 11 and each one is soldered or welded to a copper plate 28 or 29 (see Fig. 5) which is placed in recess 14: or 15 and is throughly insulated from trame 7 by means of insulatn ing plates 30 and 31. The heating plate is put in the rectangular recess of the frame, each strip 21 being placed between a copper plate 23 or 29 and an insulating plate 32 or 33 in a recess 14 or 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. A. screw 34 presses against in sulatinpgr plate 32 or 33 and insures goed contact between strip 21 and plate 28 or 29.

An asbestos plate is inserted between the heating plate and the lower face of the frame.

The branding` plate 35 is made in the ordinary manner and is liXed on the frame by six screws; the same device may be used with any number of different branding plates.

The device works as an ordinary branding' iron. but it needs no pre-heating` when in use. the necessary heat being `given by the electric current passing through resistance 20.

The connection between plate and leading-in wire is a perfect one; provision is made for a great contact area; and besides, any play is prevented by binding screw 34.

A great advantage ot.' the device is that the branding plate is kept at the same tem- Cil perature during the work without any reheating. This is of course a considerable gain of time and labor.

The invention may be applied to any hind of branding iron. Should the branding plate area be too greatfor permitting an easy manual handling of the device, the latter could be worked mechanically by levers or the like.

It must be understood that the above eX- plained drawing is given merely as an eX- ample. The details may be varied in each case, provided the action oit each part remains the saine and that the final result is unchanged.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A branding iron, comprising an openbottoinech. hollow traine; a handle therefor; a heat-ing plate disposed in the interior oi the frame and having a. resistance element wound around it; contact strips 'fastened to the ends ot the resistance element; conductors eXtending into said trame and provided at their ends with Contact strips to engage the first-named contacts; clamping screws for maintaining the two Wets oi contacts engaged; and abranding plate attached to the trame to close its bottom.

A branding iron, according to claim l? in which the clamping screws pass through openings in the side walls of the traine and bear at their inner ends directly against insulating strips disposed against one set orn contacts.

3. A branding iron, comprising an openbottomed, hollow traine; a handle therefor; a heating plate disposed in the interior ot the traine and provided with contact strips at its opposite ends; conductors extending into said jframe and provided at their ends with contact strips to engage the first-named contacts; clamping screws passing through the traine and bearing against one set of contacts, but insulated from the same7 to maintain the two sets of contacts engaged; and a branding plate attached to the frame to close its bottom.

An electrically heated branding iron comprising in combination a metallic frame having a recess therein, a handle, a heating` plate provided with terminals, a branding plate and insulated leading-in wires also provided with terminals; said frame being provided with two small recesses tor housing the terminals of said heating plate and of said leading-in wires, and withV two grooves, said grooves extending from said small recess to a tubular boss on the center part said Jrame, and said leading-in wires being rr-,n through said grooves. v

An electrically heated branding iron, comprising in combination a metallic traine having a recess therein. a handle, a heating plate, a branding plate and insulated leading-in wires; said handle comprising a hollow heat insulating part, and a metallic tabular part fixed to said frame7 said tubular part being provided with number of holes for insuring an efcient air-cooling of the saine, and said leading-in wires being run through said tubular part and hollow heat insulating part.

ln witness whereof I have signed this specication.

JEAN RAVELLA. 

